Uh oh clicking/tapping around 2k
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,649
Likes: 50
From: Goldsboro NC
Uh oh clicking/tapping around 2k
Hi fellas. i havent been on here in a while. A good while actually. Well Im PRAYING this is an easy fix. I have an idea about what it is
. I have a 2001 ZO6 full bolton and cammed. The cam was profressionally installed and tunned by a friend of mine back while i was stationed in Arkansas. He has done all my work. VERY reputable guy. Anyway today i was coming back from pensacola and under acceration i hear a click and clack that sounded like unusal valvetrain noise. Its not noticable at idle. You cant really start to hear it until around 1800rpm+. at 2100 and beyond it is definetly noticiable. Oil pressure hasnt dropped or doesnt flucuate. Pressure has been great since install over a year ago. around 44psi crusing 65psi WOT and 38-40psi in idle. Parts that were changed when the cam was done was, obviously the cam 233/239 113lsa, hardened pushrods, .675PRC EHT springs, titanium retainers n seals, UD pulley, and oil pump. Car has been running great ever since. Ever since i PCSed here to Hurlburt Field, i havent done any racing bc it is my daily commute and i have 1 year left to pay on her. She just crossed 105k. I will try to post a video. sorry for the long post just trying to give details. i plan to pull valve covers tomorrow....
. I have a 2001 ZO6 full bolton and cammed. The cam was profressionally installed and tunned by a friend of mine back while i was stationed in Arkansas. He has done all my work. VERY reputable guy. Anyway today i was coming back from pensacola and under acceration i hear a click and clack that sounded like unusal valvetrain noise. Its not noticable at idle. You cant really start to hear it until around 1800rpm+. at 2100 and beyond it is definetly noticiable. Oil pressure hasnt dropped or doesnt flucuate. Pressure has been great since install over a year ago. around 44psi crusing 65psi WOT and 38-40psi in idle. Parts that were changed when the cam was done was, obviously the cam 233/239 113lsa, hardened pushrods, .675PRC EHT springs, titanium retainers n seals, UD pulley, and oil pump. Car has been running great ever since. Ever since i PCSed here to Hurlburt Field, i havent done any racing bc it is my daily commute and i have 1 year left to pay on her. She just crossed 105k. I will try to post a video. sorry for the long post just trying to give details. i plan to pull valve covers tomorrow....
Last edited by ZZ06; Jun 2, 2012 at 10:17 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 5,955
Likes: 161
From: PNW
I didn't see any rocker arm upgrade in the mod list. When you pull the valve covers, look for signs of failed rocker arm bearings.
It's possible the lifters are getting tired.
It's possible the lifters are getting tired.
Last edited by ZeeOSix; Jun 2, 2012 at 08:07 PM.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,649
Likes: 50
From: Goldsboro NC
you know i have been telling myself the entire time that when somthing goes it is more than likely going to be one of 2 things....rocker(s) or lifter(s). Im uploding a video to youtube right now...
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,649
Likes: 50
From: Goldsboro NC
Here is a video of the sound. It is kind of hard to hear but i did my best to narrow it down.
http://youtu.be/1-6vstK1ekY
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http://youtu.be/1-6vstK1ekY
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Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,649
Likes: 50
From: Goldsboro NC
its hard to tell. i just pulled and am looking at the drivers side now. Everything looks ok. No broken spring. The rockers are still together. I do have a question about them though. Some have a just a little bit of play and 3 of em have no play at all when i try to wiggle them. Which is correct??? Or does it not matter?.... Im about to start on the passenger side
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,649
Likes: 50
From: Goldsboro NC
....(sigh) fortunately but unfortunately i looked and inspected both sides to the best of my ability and i dont see anything going on with the rockers or or springs. All needle bearings are still in place. Guess this means ill be looking up on how to remove the intake tomorrow to inspect the lifters. Great.....if it turns out to be one (heaven forbid more than one) doesnt that usually mean i have to replace the cam as well??? Thanks for the advice ZeeOSix. keep it coming. Any other advice or input will be appreciated
Guess this means ill be looking up on how to remove the intake tomorrow to inspect the lifters. Great.....if it turns out to be one (heaven forbid more than one) doesnt that usually mean i have to replace the cam as well??? Thanks for the advice ZeeOSix. keep it coming. Any other advice or input will be appreciated
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,493
Likes: 1,178
From: Dyer, IN
....(sigh) fortunately but unfortunately i looked and inspected both sides to the best of my ability and i dont see anything going on with the rockers or or springs. All needle bearings are still in place. Guess this means ill be looking up on how to remove the intake tomorrow to inspect the lifters. Great.....if it turns out to be one (heaven forbid more than one) doesnt that usually mean i have to replace the cam as well??? Thanks for the advice ZeeOSix. keep it coming. Any other advice or input will be appreciated
Guess this means ill be looking up on how to remove the intake tomorrow to inspect the lifters. Great.....if it turns out to be one (heaven forbid more than one) doesnt that usually mean i have to replace the cam as well??? Thanks for the advice ZeeOSix. keep it coming. Any other advice or input will be appreciatedCorvette Stories
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Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,649
Likes: 50
From: Goldsboro NC
You have to pull the valley cover as well, and yes..by the time you hear a bad lifter (if it's a roller issue), the cam is probably toast. I would not be too hasty to pull everything apart just yet. You should team up with someone who knows their way around an engine, for a second ear.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,493
Likes: 1,178
From: Dyer, IN
Thanks lucky. Yea I do wish i was back in Arkansas so I could let my friend hear. I don't really know anyone here. The only place that specializes in corvettes is Leo's Corvette and that is about a 35-40min drive. I figure if it were a spun bearing id have some oil pressure issues but what do I know. I'm not a vette specialist. Beleive me I don't want to tear into anything especially since its my way around. I can drive my wifes car but its gonna be a strain. I just really want to know what is AT LEAST wrong with it so i can work on some plan of attack
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,404
Likes: 1,595
From: Western NY
Hi fellas. i havent been on here in a while. A good while actually. Well Im PRAYING this is an easy fix. I have an idea about what it is. I have a 2001 ZO6 full bolton and cammed. The cam was profressionally installed and tunned by a friend of mine back while i was stationed in Arkansas. He has done all my work. VERY reputable guy. Anyway today i was coming back from pensacola and under acceration i hear a click and clack that sounded like unusal valvetrain noise. Its not noticable at idle. You cant really start to hear it until around 1800rpm+. at 2100 and beyond it is definetly noticiable. Oil pressure hasnt dropped or doesnt flucuate. Pressure has been great since install over a year ago. around 44psi crusing 65psi WOT and 38-40psi in idle. Parts that were changed when the cam was done was, obviously the cam 233/239 113lsa, hardened pushrods, .675PRC EHT springs, titanium retainers n seals, UD pulley, and oil pump. Car has been running great ever since. Ever since i PCSed here to Hurlburt Field, i havent done any racing bc it is my daily commute and i have 1 year left to pay on her. She just crossed 105k. I will try to post a video. sorry for the long post just trying to give details. i plan to pull valve covers tomorrow....
. I have a 2001 ZO6 full bolton and cammed. The cam was profressionally installed and tunned by a friend of mine back while i was stationed in Arkansas. He has done all my work. VERY reputable guy. Anyway today i was coming back from pensacola and under acceration i hear a click and clack that sounded like unusal valvetrain noise. Its not noticable at idle. You cant really start to hear it until around 1800rpm+. at 2100 and beyond it is definetly noticiable. Oil pressure hasnt dropped or doesnt flucuate. Pressure has been great since install over a year ago. around 44psi crusing 65psi WOT and 38-40psi in idle. Parts that were changed when the cam was done was, obviously the cam 233/239 113lsa, hardened pushrods, .675PRC EHT springs, titanium retainers n seals, UD pulley, and oil pump. Car has been running great ever since. Ever since i PCSed here to Hurlburt Field, i havent done any racing bc it is my daily commute and i have 1 year left to pay on her. She just crossed 105k. I will try to post a video. sorry for the long post just trying to give details. i plan to pull valve covers tomorrow....
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,649
Likes: 50
From: Goldsboro NC
I live in Navarre FL. Its about 35min from Pensacola. 20min from Fort Walton Beach and about an hour from Destin
No i always fill up at the tom thumb literally right up the street from me. I wish there was a close shell but to my knowledge the only one ive seen is in Destin. Well part of me considered injectors, but that just seems too loud. I almost wanted to run a thing of techron through it just to see, but didnt want to risk possibly doing anymore damage. You could be on to somthing though. When my buddy kris dyno tunned the car it was about 85* out. It has been low to mid 90's here. Damn i forgot to mention i have a 160*Tstat as wel... but anyway my stock injector duty cycle was at 92% at WOT.....be gentle
Last edited by ZZ06; Jun 3, 2012 at 10:21 AM.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 653
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If you don't see any damage on the cam lobes and lifter rollers after pulling the intake and valley cover, I'd put it back together and do some more testing before removing the heads.
I've had the same noise on my '02 Silverado and my neighbor's '02 Z06...intermittent tapping that was impossible to localize even with a stethoscope.
We were able to correct it by running Gunk ValveMedic in the oil for ~100 miles, then changing oil & filter to an oil w/ the zinc/phosphorous additive level at API SL specification quantities.
I like Red Line 5W-30 for that first change, it has even more zinc & phos than SL spec and is a proven winner in LS engines. Run that for a normal oil change interval, pay attention to valvetrain noise, and then try Mobil-1 High Mileage 5W-30 synthetic after that if cost is a factor. It's blended to SL spec.
Since the API cut back on these anti-wear additives back in the mid to late 2000's, valvetrain noise seems to be an increasing fact of life. LS engines aren't supposed to need more zinc & phosphorous, but the evidence seems to suggest otherwise.
And BE SURE to torque the rockers in either the GM pattern or the EO/IC method to avoid collapsing a lifter. You don't want to tighten a rocker w/ the lifter on the cam's lobe, only the base circle.
I've had the same noise on my '02 Silverado and my neighbor's '02 Z06...intermittent tapping that was impossible to localize even with a stethoscope.
We were able to correct it by running Gunk ValveMedic in the oil for ~100 miles, then changing oil & filter to an oil w/ the zinc/phosphorous additive level at API SL specification quantities.
I like Red Line 5W-30 for that first change, it has even more zinc & phos than SL spec and is a proven winner in LS engines. Run that for a normal oil change interval, pay attention to valvetrain noise, and then try Mobil-1 High Mileage 5W-30 synthetic after that if cost is a factor. It's blended to SL spec.
Since the API cut back on these anti-wear additives back in the mid to late 2000's, valvetrain noise seems to be an increasing fact of life. LS engines aren't supposed to need more zinc & phosphorous, but the evidence seems to suggest otherwise.
And BE SURE to torque the rockers in either the GM pattern or the EO/IC method to avoid collapsing a lifter. You don't want to tighten a rocker w/ the lifter on the cam's lobe, only the base circle.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,649
Likes: 50
From: Goldsboro NC
havent pulled the intake yet. doing another inspection of the springs. These springs were meant to last longer than their standard .650. my lift is .595 .603. But i do i have an aggressive ramp rate with the XER lobes so yea.....
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,649
Likes: 50
From: Goldsboro NC
man i dont believe its the springs...well not somthing that i can physically see at least. However after looking again i did see a very small knic on one of my titainium retainers. Its on the very outside, located on the #5 cylinder 2nd rocker. Almost certain it didnt go in that way.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,629
Likes: 6
From: Little Rock Arkansas
Hey buddy. Sucks you are so far away. The video is hard to tell but since you installed a magnet on the drain plug I would check it for debris. Since you have done all the checks I suggested and they all look good you need to try to localize the issue. You can get something like a garden hose and cut it to a couple feet long and hold it to your ear and start moving it around the engine to find where it's the loudest. If you find it's close to a header flange look for an exhaust leak. They can make a ticking sound also. I use a stethoscope when I am looking for noises.
Hope this helps
Kris
Hope this helps
Kris
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 5,955
Likes: 161
From: PNW
Another way to monitor internal engine issues is to remove the oil filter and cut it open to look for signs of abnormal wear debris.
Last edited by ZeeOSix; Jun 3, 2012 at 02:32 PM.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,649
Likes: 50
From: Goldsboro NC
Thanks fellas. This looks like its going to be a work in progress. And a slow one at that. Money is no where near what it needs to be so having this happen is horrible. I dont have a floor jack and i dont know if driving it to base to change the oil and have a look see is a great idea. But its almost lookin like i dont have a choice. i cant let it just sit there lol it wont fix itself.